“For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear” (2 Timothy 4:3).

It’s not my practice to name names, but I was saddened (not surprised) to hear that Rob Bell, founding pastor of Mars Hill Bible Church in Grand Hill, Michigan, has come out in support of same-sex marriage during a forum on March 17, 2013 in San Francisco.Read more →

February 5th, 2011 | Posted by admin in Articles - (Comments Off on The Emergent Church–Moving From Absolute To Authentic)

Over the next few weeks, Shane is revisiting articles that drew the most feedback in 2010. Here is the final one…

When terms “emergent” or “postmodern” are used, I’m referring to what is known collectively as The Emergent Church Movement. This movement is very popular among young adults. They believe that a new church should emerge in response to changes within our culture. This isn’t necessarily wrong if change operates within the perimeters of absolute truth; the EC movement, as a whole, however, is more about subjectivity than objectivity, experience than reason, relevance than repentance, outward works than inward change, and feelings than truth.

We are to detest division within the church, and work toward reconciliation whenever we can, but we must not confuse “attacking” with “contending.” I’m not challenging emergents if, by this term, one simply means reaching the world for Christ with God’s word as our standard. I was 37 when I began writing on this topic; I completely understand the need to be “culturally relevant.”Read more →

January 15th, 2011 | Posted by admin in Articles - (Comments Off on Where Are The Bold, Authoritative Preachers Today?)

A friend recently asked, “Where are those with uncompromising power and God-given authority in our pulpits today?” His statement reminded me of the desperate need for passionate, spirit-filled preachers focused on pleasing God rather than man. Our culture’s false perception of God as a cosmic ball of love, or a doting grandfather desperately needs to be challenged.

Unfortunately, difficult truths are often compromised, watered-down, or avoided altogether in the hope of “not offending,” “securing an audience,” or building a “mega-ministry.” As a result, the church is a mile wide but only an inch deep; judgment is never mentioned, repentance is never sought, sin is often excused, and lives are not radically changed.Read more →